Acts 2:17-21(NKJV) ‘Andit shall come to pass in the last days, says God,That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;Your sons andyour daughters shall prophesy,Your young men shall see visions,Your old men shall dream dreams.18 And on My menservants and on My maidservantsI will pour out My Spirit in those days;And they shall prophesy.19 I will show wonders in heaven aboveand signs in the earth beneath…21 And it shall come to passThat whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

God has called us to some amazing stuff in His kingdom. I can count at least 5 things in Luke 4 that Jesus declared that He came to earth to accomplish. If I’m understanding the scriptures correctly; these five things are now the things that we are responsible to bring to humanity. Jesus promises that He had come to preach the gospel, to heal the brokenhearted, to set captives free, to heal blind eyes, and to bring liberty to those who were oppressed.

Amazingly, we are now called to declare those exact things over the earth. The thought of accomplishing such incredible stuff could be intimidating until we remember that He also promised to give us a helper (the Holy Spirit) to assist us in this endeavor.

He promises that the Holy Spirit can fill us. He promises us that the Holy Spirit will cause us to prophesy over others. He promises that He’d give us dreams to inspire us. He promises to allow us to see the wonders of Heaven performed right before our eyes. Finally, He promises to allow us to see a great harvest as we lead others to call on His name. I don’t know about you, but just the thought of all of this excites me. I don’t know what I’m more excited about; the callon us or the promise to help us accomplish it. Either way, it looks like a great deal for us. Not only does Jesus call us to great purposes, but He equips us to perform them. That is some amazing news!

]]>His Power in Me!http://covenantchurch.church/blog/his-power-in-me/
http://covenantchurch.church/blog/his-power-in-me/Tue, 03 Sep 2019 04:00:00 +0000Luke 17:20-21 (NKJV)20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom...Mike Devine

Luke 17:20-21 (NKJV)20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

John 7:38 (NKJV) He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

I’m not sure how I’ve read John 7:38 before now, but I am confident that I always thought it said something quite different from what it actually says. In fact, if you would have asked me to quote that scripture to you before now; I would have said this: “He who believes in Me...into His heart would flow rivers of living water.”

Don’t hear me wrong, I still believe that rivers do flow to the ones who believe, I just didn’t really understand the ramifications of it actually flowing from me as well. In short, what I think John is saying to us is simply this; God wants to pour Himself into us for one giant reason; so it can then be poured from us.

God has set His kingdom up in such a way that He wants to always use humanity to reach the heart of humanity. The concept of this doesn’t in any way bypass the idea that God is our source. It simply means that the way He is choosing to change the world is through other humans.

Humans are always called to reach humans. How can that be accomplished? Simply put, He wants us to be filled with His Spirit so that we might then lead others to be filled with this same Spirit. Luke 17 reminds us that the kingdom is within us and John 7 reminds us that it’s there to be poured out. We need to get busy living in such a way that we see His kingdom come on earth through us!

]]>Access Grantedhttp://covenantchurch.church/blog/access-granted/
http://covenantchurch.church/blog/access-granted/Mon, 19 Aug 2019 04:00:00 +00001 John 5:14-15 (NKJV) Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
I...Mike Devine

1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV) Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

I have so enjoyed our time in I John. Even before we started the study, I was excited to go deeper in my relationship with my Father. Now having studied this book for a few months, I find myself all the more excited to see where He will take me as I learn to die to myself and grow deeper in Him.

Today, I want to remind us all of a few things that we have learned over the past few months. I have learned that we are never alone on our journey. I have learned that what we need, He has. I have been reminded that what we so long for, He is. He reminded me that we possess in us what others need, and finally to remember that where we need to go; He leads. Knowing all of this inspires me to swim out into deep waters. Knowing all of this I now know without a doubt that:

I can now walk life with a fierce fearlessness.I can now be radically obedient.I carry in me a “voice of HOPE” to a lost and broken world.I have full access to the SUPERNATURAL!

Our access to ALL that He is or has, has been granted. My life matters. Because His Spirit lives within me, I will be EVERYTHING He said I could be. Enjoy the journey. It will be amazing.

]]>Focusing on our Worship Part 2http://covenantchurch.church/blog/focusing-on-our-worship-part-2/
http://covenantchurch.church/blog/focusing-on-our-worship-part-2/Tue, 13 Aug 2019 04:00:00 +0000As we continue in the Christian faith longer and longer we begin to realize how personal this relationship is between us and our Heavenly Father. Worship is the same way. It comes down to a one-on-one commitment that must be pursued and worked on...Aaron GroomsAs we continue in the Christian faith longer and longer we begin to realize how personal this relationship is between us and our Heavenly Father.Worship is the same way.It comes down to a one-on-one commitment that must be pursued and worked on for a lifetime.It’s never perfected.

Psalms 105 says;

Oh, give thanks to the Lord!Call upon His name;Make known His deeds among the peoples!2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;Talk of all His wondrous works!3 Glory in His holy name;Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!4 Seek the Lord and His strength;Seek His face evermore!5 Remember His marvelous works which He has done,

Our worship starts with a grateful heart that is set to glorify the Lord for who He is, not for what He has given us. We have to remember that we can only choose worship for ourselves. No one else can do it for you or me. As we read the Psalm above. Please notice how much action is going on in this short passage. Our worship must be active, exciting and ongoing. Like the worship song says, “Your praise will Ever Be on my lips”!

So ask yourself these questions today. Is it going to be Christ that gets my worship today? Is this desire going beyond all other things in your life? Are you putting Christ at the center life and decisions?

]]>Focusing on our Worshiphttp://covenantchurch.church/blog/focusing-on-our-worship/
http://covenantchurch.church/blog/focusing-on-our-worship/Tue, 13 Aug 2019 04:00:00 +0000As you look across our church on Sunday mornings, and others, it is easy to see that most people are at different seasons in their lives. Some individuals are starting a marriage, others are sitting alone after a spouse has passed away. Or maybe you...Aaron GroomsAs you look across our church on Sunday mornings, and others, it is easy to see that most people are at different seasons in their lives.Some individuals are starting a marriage, others are sitting alone after a spouse has passed away.Or maybe you see a newborn with a young mom and dad, while next to them there are some “empty nesters”.There are many other scenarios that we fall into during our Christian walk and life in general.One thing is certain, not all of us are in the same season of those around us!So how are we supposed to have a true community in the church with this many people?More than that, how are we supposed to have unity in the Body of Christ if we are not at the same place in our journey?With those questions in mind, let’s discuss something that each of us controls and can bring us to a place of humility and unity.

Every one of us was created to worship our Heavenly Father.Obviously, we know that some have been given the purpose to lead us into worship by singing or playing an instrument.But I’d like to come off the stage and see what it really means to worship.The word worship means, “giving reverence and honor to God”.It is a verb.It calls us to action and requires effort.Did you know that the word “worship” is used 108 times, but the word “worshipped” is only used 70 times.Those numbers could shed some light on the fact that it is much easier to talk about worship than actually do it!

Let’s look at this story and break it down as we evaluate our worship.

Read Luke 7:36-50 “The Alabaster Jar”

This woman started with personal humility.

Her first act of worship was to go outside of her comfort zone.She went to the house of a Pharisee (a careful observer of the law).

She began weeping before anything was said.She brought a heart of expectancy and was prepared to Worship.Hint: I don’t see anything about music or a song.

Despite the Pharisee, a spiritual leader, questioning this moment, this act of worship and Jesus himself; this woman’s focus did not waver.

This woman who was known for her unholy lifestyle did not allow the label of sin to keep her from her identity!She understood, when you find the feet of Christ, you truly find His heart!

]]>Supernatural Seems NORMALhttp://covenantchurch.church/blog/supernatural-seems-normal/
http://covenantchurch.church/blog/supernatural-seems-normal/Tue, 13 Aug 2019 04:00:00 +00001 John 5:6-8 (NKJV) This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father...Mike Devine

1 John 5:6-8 (NKJV) This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one

Jesus didn’t just come by water but came by water and blood. Wow! That sounds really important, but whatever does it mean? It means that Jesus did ALL He promised and came to accomplish. Let me explain. When Jesus was baptized by John in the River Jordan, immediately the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove. That was an important event obviously, but that wasn’t the end. Jesus finished out a life of service to His Father and then went to the cross to die in our place. If the cross part hadn’t happened, we would obviously have a different testimony of WHO Jesus was. In fact, we’d honestly have no testimony at all. Since we now know that Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected, can also be certain that He has granted eternal life to all who believe. In addition, we have been given something else because of the cross. Scripture says that when Jesus died that the curtain to the Holy of Holies was torn in two. We acknowledge that because of the tearing, we now have access to His Holy Presence. How is that accomplished you might ask? Answer: Because the Holy Spirit can now live in us. What is the Holy Spirit? It is none other than the same Holy Spirit that Jesus received at the moment of His being baptized by John.

Knowing all of that, we can now understand what John is saying in 1 John 5:6-8. He is reminding us that Jesus’ obedience to being both baptized (water)and dying on a cross (blood) gained our access to the supernatural. Because Jesus chose obedience, we can now tap into both the supernatural “will” of God and to the supernatural “things” of God. Had Jesus simply just received the Holy Spirit at His “water” baptizing and failed to go to the cross to die, our access to the “SUPERNATURAL” would be null and void. Because Hedidbothh; the water and the blood, the supernatural realm of God can now be part of our everyday lives. It can be our new “NORMAL!”

]]>Called To Prophecyhttp://covenantchurch.church/blog/called-to-prophecy/
http://covenantchurch.church/blog/called-to-prophecy/Mon, 29 Jul 2019 04:00:00 +00001 John 5:1-2(NKJV) Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments...Mike Devine1 John 5:1-2(NKJV) Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.

Let’s ponder the above scripture for just a minute. What is He saying exactly? In essence, He is saying that everybody who loves Him will also love His kids. Furthermore, He says that this is how you actually know that you are truly His. Since God puts such a high premium on others, we must do so as well. Why does He care so much about how my life affects others and why does He care what I have to say? The answer is simple, God has a voice of HOPE that He has spoken over your life and would now love to use you and I to speak that same hope over others. God not only wants to speak to you, but He wants to speak through you.

So often Christians are scared to say to others what God has said to us. We wonder if we are speaking what we think instead of what He thinks. Believe me, I certainly understand the caution in that. Over the years, I have learned to accomplish this by one simple internal question: I usually ask myself if what I want to say is of my nature or His nature? Once we learn the nature of God, we learn better to communicate the voice of God. I believe God has called the body of Christ to be a prophetic voice to our broken and lost world. He wants us to let others how and what He thinks about them. God truly wants to communicate His love and mercy to others through us. We simply have to learn to be obedient in doing it. Try it today. Find someone who is going through something. Ask God what He would like to say to that person. Match up what you think His nature is to the thing you want to say. If what you feel led to share sounds like what the Father would say to them or has said to you, then go for it. You might be surprised at how clearly you can begin to understand the voice of God as you walk in obedience to the nudging of the Holy Spirit in you.

]]>Live Fearlesslyhttp://covenantchurch.church/blog/live-fearlessly/
http://covenantchurch.church/blog/live-fearlessly/Mon, 29 Jul 2019 04:00:00 +00001 John 4:17-19 (NKJV) Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment...Mike Devine

1 John 4:17-19 (NKJV) Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.

I’ve often wondered what John meant when he said, “Perfect love casts out fear.” As I was praying this morning and attempting to write this article; I feel like it came to me. I think what the Father is trying to tell us through HisWord is simply this: “Since my love for you is perfect, and since the same love that I have for you is in you by My Holy Spirit; you can also now love without fear.” In other words, we no longer have to live with the fear of rejection of what others will think of us as we love even the unlovable. Now that we have the security of knowing that we are loved supremely by the Creator of the universe, we can love and live with a FEARLESS love. Since we now know that our hope is in Him and our value comes only from Him, our desire to be affirmed by others is greatly diminished.

Does that mean we still don’t need affirmation from others? Absolutely not! We still need to affirm and be affirmed, but our hope now doesn’t rest solely on other humans. Now that I know how deeply He loves me, I can walk always with my head held high and toward a great hope for my future. I can live fearlessly knowing that even if I am rejected by every other person on the earth, I am still perfectly loved by the God who made everything I see. Perfect love really does cast out ALL fear.

]]>We May as Well Surrenderhttp://covenantchurch.church/blog/we-may-as-well-surrender/
http://covenantchurch.church/blog/we-may-as-well-surrender/Mon, 22 Jul 2019 04:00:00 +00001 John 3:16 (NKJV) By this we know love because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Sometimes as I look around at the church, I wonder if we all thought that signing up for this life in Christ meant...Mike Devine

1 John 3:16 (NKJV) By this we know love because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Sometimes as I look around at the church, I wonder if we all thought that signing up for this life in Christ meant that all of the sudden life was going to get easy. Don’t get me wrong, I like easy; but easy is the last thing that comes to mind as I live my life for Jesus. I might even go so far as to say that there were some parts of this life that seemed easier before I met Him. Yes, living life for Jesus is hard; but I don’t know why we are so surprised. Didn’tJesus warn us that living life for Him would be difficult? In I John, John confirms the words of Jesus when he challenges us to lay down our lives. Laying down my life has been hard for me. There are times that I am convinced that I know more than Him about how to do life. There are times when I would rather do it my way than His. There are times when I feel like I have surrendered enough already. There are times when I do my own thing and forget that I no longer belong to me. It’s in those days of trying to have my own way that I make the most messes.

I have to remind myself often that He is in charge. I have to remind my- self that His ways are higher than mine. I have to remind myself that He sees the beginning and the end. I have to remind myself that He is God and that I am not! I have to remind myself that I was bought with a price and that I can no longer just do what my flesh wants to do. I have to remind myself that a life of surrender is the life I chose to embrace when I chose to embrace Him. It’s in those moments of real surrender that I find authentic peace. It’s in those moments of surrender that I find my purpose. It is in those moments of surrender that I see His hope. You see, life isn’t about me anymore. It isn’tabout my great successes; successes that make me feel like I am more important that the call. God doesn’t need my successes, He needs my surrender! It’s in the surrendering that I find my value. It’s in the surrender that I find my reason. It’s in the surrender that I truly find Him, and He is ALL that matters.

]]>Embracing Sonshiphttp://covenantchurch.church/blog/embracing-sonship/
http://covenantchurch.church/blog/embracing-sonship/Mon, 15 Jul 2019 04:00:00 +00001 John 3:1-3 (NKJV) Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been...Mike Devine

1 John 3:1-3 (NKJV) Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

One of my greatest challenges as a child of God has been to acknowledge and live life like I am a child of God. You might be thinking that I am talking about my misbehaviors and failures. If that’s your guess, you are wrong. While it is an absolute fact that I have often failed God since I met Him, my issue with embracing sonship isn’t so much about my failures, but His response to my failures. Let me explain. You see, I grew up with the thought that God was always watching my every move; watching for my next mistake. I had a view of God that He was generally mad at me and that He spent more time disappointed in me than the times He was pleased with me. I often missed the grace and mercy part of Who He is.

Over the last few years, I feel like I have been given a new revelation of His heart. I now realize that God isn’t watching me to catch me in my next failure, but is watching me to catch me in my next success. That doesn’t mean He doesn’t care about my sin. He cares deeply about it, but not for the reason I thought. He hates my sin because it separates me from Him and He literally hates being separated from me. Simply put, if God wanted to destroy my life for my mistakes, He had plenty of ammo to do that years ago. Truth is, He isn’t out to count my sins and find my failures, He has embraced me to give me a greater life than the one I dreamed for myself. The hardest part for me to embrace as a child of God is the promise that He has given me all I need. I no longer have to live life like I am a slave to sin. Because of Jesus, I am free. Everything that belonged to the Son now belongs to the rest of us. The revelation of this kind of love motivates me. Knowing what I know now makes me want to please His heart all the more. I no longer want to be who I used to be, but now my reason for it is different. I used to want to do right so He wouldn’t kill me. Now I want to do right because I am crazy in love with everything that He is.